Cameron B. answered • 01/11/21
M.A. with two years of Graduate Latin & Three Years of teaching
I am not sure what the question is? Did you desire a Translation? Or is the Latin Question itself the question?
This is poor Latin and extremely difficult to make out due to the fact that the Number of the verb Spectat is Singular while the apparent Subject, deae, is plural. However, here is the translation: "Did the Goddesses observe while Arachnē formed the pictures?" Here is the key to the translation:
1) The Enclitic -ne attached to the verb denotes a question. Even with the lack of punctuation, this dictates that whatever follows must be in the form of a question. Specifically, -ne assumes either a yes or no response to the question.
2) The Verbs are Present in Tense; however, it is common in Latin to utilize the Present when referring to past events, especially in narratives. This is called The Historical Present.
3) the noun pictoras is First Declension, Feminine, Plural, Accusative, thus it is the Direct Object of the Verb.
4) Lastly, Arachnē is originally Greek, and therefore its declension is irregular. Nevertheless, she is the subject of the second verb.
To Answer the question, yes. While the myth centers specifically on the Greek Goddess Athena, more than likely the competition would have been in view of an audience--i.e. the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus.
